Loose-leaf binder



Aug. 25, "1925. 1,551,044

C. 5T. C. MULLINS Loo'sE LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. 20. 1923 INVENTOR M fih Mm ATTORNEY Uni s CLAUDE ST. CLAIR MULLINS, 0F ASTORIA, NEW YORK.

\ LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

To all whom. it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLAUDE ST. CLAIR MUL- LINS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Astoria, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to paper binders, and more particularly to binders of the so called loose leaf type, in which pages or sheets of paper may be conveniently filed for reference in book form.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved binder in which a locking rod is employed for securing the cover to the leaf structure in a highly eflicient manner.

Another object relates to the provision of guiding means for positively locating the rod with other portions of the device, whereby application of the locking rod to the device may be expeditiously effected.

Another object relates to the provision of an improved form of clamping member.

Another object relates to the provision of an improved form of locking rod which serves the additional function of a tool with which to operate the clamping member.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying my invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of a loose leaf binder embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a binder in open position;

Figure 3 shows a locking rod;

Figure 4 shows one form of clamping device; and

Figure 5 shows a modified form of clamping device.

Referring to the drawings, the binder comprises in general, two parts, the cover or outer portion, and the leaf holder and leaves, or inner portion. The outer portion comprises a stout cover 10 having a pair of fiat portions 11 and 12, of desired size, and an intermediate arcuate portion 13. The cover may preferably be made laminated, in-

llpplication filed. December 20, 1923. Serial No. 681,689.

eluding a plurality of layers of heavy sheet pressboard 1 1, 15 in each of the portions, and a flexible cloth covering 16 over all por tions thereof. That part of the cloth covering designated 17 in Figures 1 and 2, not having the heavy re-enforcement of the pressboard laminations, serves as a hinge for the movement of the flat portions 11 and 12 relative to the arcuate portion 13.

Included also within the covering on the inner or concave face of the portion 13, is a metalre-enforcement sheet 20, co-eXtensiv-e with the cover, and terminating along its lateral edges in a broken bead 21. An additional layer of cloth 18 is provided over the sheet 20. At spaced points there is punched out therefrom a plurality of fingers 22, the fingers of one edge being oppositely disposed to corresponding fingers of the other edge, so that each two fingers engage the ends of a clamping stud of the leaf holders as will subsequently be set forth. A suitable number of rivets, preferably having flattened heads, serve to fasten the sheet 20 to the laminations of the arcuate cover portion 13. under the cover 16 thereof. The rivets are disposed, and the cover 16 has sufficient slack, so that a degree of freedom of movement of the lateral edges of the metal sheet 20 is permitted.

The inner or leaf holding portion is of unitary construction, and comprises a pair of elongated substantially flat plates 30, 31, in spaced parallel relation, having interposed between them the leaves or sheets 32 to be bound. The sheets are perforated along the binding edge in a wellknown manner, and there extends through the perforations and through the plates 30, 31, a plurality of clamping studs, such as 33, 33, shown three in number. Each stud is provided at one end with a head 34 of enlarged diameter, to engage the lowermost plate 31, and the head is perforated as clearly shown in Figure 1. The upper end portion'of each stud extends through the upper clamping plate 30, and the upper end portion is screwthreaded for the reception of a clamping means or nut 35. The head 34 and the upper end of each stud is'preferably rounded 01f. Each finger-like projection 22 of the re-inforcing sheet 20 is formed with an offset clearly shown at 36 in Figure 2 to serve as a socket or seat for the reception of the stud, and the dimensions of the sheet 20 are appropriate to the length of the stud so that each stud is rigidly held between the oppositely disposed fingers, 22.

One form of clamping means is shown in Figure 4 applied to a stud 33 and comprises a knurled nut in the form of a relatively fiat disc. At spaced points in the periphery are a plurality of drilled holes 41 for the reception of a rod 42, one end 43 of which is formed in arcuate shape so as to engage the periphery of the nut 40. By means of a bent portion 44 the rod permits a secure grip upon the nut 40. The end 43 of the rod 42 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 thus forms a spanner wrench whereby to position the nut 40.

A modified form of clamping means is shown in Figure 5 in which there is applied to the stud 33 a flat nut having a plurality of wings 51 which can be readily grasped by the fingers of the operator.

It will be apparent that the lateral edges of the re-enforcement sheet 20, excepting where the fingers 22 are formed in flanges, are inwardly turned into a bead so as to form an eye. This eye is of such size as to permit the reception of the body of the rod 42, one end pointed so as to facilitate move ment thereto through the eye.

In operation the leaves 32 which are to be bound, are placed in a pile with the punched edges along the same side. The clamping plates 30 and 31 are then applied, perforations in the clamping plates being opposite to the perforations in the sheets. The studs 33 are then inserted preferably with the head end lowermost and are so disposed that the apertures at the ends are in alignment. The clamping means 40 of Figure 4, or 50 of Figure 5, is then applied to each stud. In the case of the clamping means 40 the rod 42 may be used as a tool for applying considerable pressure. The leaf holder is thus assembled.

The cover 10 is now opened and the leaf holder element positioned therein, as shown in Figure 2. A rod 42 as shown in Figure 3, is then inserted through the bead or eyes 21 of the portion 12 of the cover extending through the aligned apertures of the receptive studs. The cover is then closed and the fingers 22 so engage the studs 33 that the bead 21 is held so that it is in alignment with the apertures in the upper ends of the studs 33 and the second rod 42, such as shown in Figure 3, is then inserted.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a loose leaf binder of extremely simple and rugged construction which may be subjected to extremely severe conditions of use, and even may be held by a single sheet thereof. The cover is of unusually sturdy construction and the re-enforcement performs the double function of re-inforcing and protecting the binder and of providing a guide for the locking rod. The assembling of the device is rendered extremely simple and easy for even an inexperienced operator and the locking rod slides in without any special adjustment or precaution. In order to clamp the loose leaves together with very high pressure the locking rod may also be employed as a tool or spanner Wrench the rod 42 being sufliciently stiff not to be bent by its use as a wrench.

1Vhile I have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexed claims certain novel features of my invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A holder for loose leaves, comprising a plurality of perforated screw threaded studs passing through the leaves to be bound, clamping means for securing the leaves to the studs including a plate and a nut adjustably mounted on each of said studs, a cover, a locking member passing through a portion of the cover and the perforations in the studs, and positive means for positioning the cover in predetermined relation to the studs.

2. A holder for loose leaves, comprising a plurality of perforated screw threaded studs passing through the leaves to be bound, clamping means for securing the leaves to the studs including a plate and a nut adjustably mounted on each of said studs, a cover having a guide portion, a locking rod, passing through the guide portion of the cover and the perforations in the studs, and positive means for positioning the guide portion of the cover in predetermined relation to the perforations in the studs.

3. A holder for loose leaves, comprising a plurality of spaced studs having perforations in alignment, clamping means adjustably mounted on the studs for securing a variable quantity of leaves to the studs, a cover having a portion formed as a guide in alignment with the perforations of said studs, a locking member passing through said guide portion and the studs, and finger like extensions from said cover engaging said studs respectively to maintain the studs in fixed position relative to said cover.

4. A holder for loose leaves, comprising a plurality of spaced studs having perforations in alignment, clamping means including a plate in contact with the leaves and a nut adjustably mounted on the studs for securing a variable quantity of leaves to the studs, a cover having a portion formed as a guide in alignment with the perforations of said studs, a locking member passing through said guide portion and the studs,

and finger like extensions from said cover engaging said studs respectively to maintain the studs in fixed position relative to said cover.

5. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a back having a reinforcing sheet extending inwardly therefrom to form a U, a separable binder element having a plurality of perforated studs positioned in predetermined relation with said reinforcement sheet, each of said studs having means adjustably positioned thereon for exerting binding pressure on the leaves and a retaining rod extending through and guided by a portion of said reinforcement sheet and extending through at least some of the perforations of said studs.

6. A loose leaf binder comprising in combination an elongated metal sheet element formed into frusto cylindrical shape, the op positely disposed longitudinal edges each having a bead formed thereon for at least a portion of the length of the sheet element, a leaf holding element including perforated studs held in fixed position by said extensions, and a rod extending through said bead and the perforations of said studs for securing said elements together.

7. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a book having leaves clamped upon spaced studs, said studs having perforations in the ends: thereof and the perforations in the respective studs being in alignment with the perforations of the other studs, a cover for the book including a reenforcement sheet having a bead in alignment with each row of said perforations and a pair of oppositely disposed extensions engaging the ends of each of said studs, and a look rod extending through each row of perforations and bead for securing the cover to the book.

8. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of a book having leaves clamped upon spaced bolts, said bolts having perforations in the ends thereof and the perforations a in the respective bolts being in alignment with the perforations of the other bolts, a cover for the book including a reenforcement sheet having a bead in alignment with each row of said perforations and a pair of oppositely disposed extensions engaging the ends of each of said bolts and a lock rod extending through each row of perforations and bead for securing the cover to the book. 9. A holder for loose leaves, comprising a plurality of perforated screw threaded studs passing through the leaves to be bound, clamping means screwed to the studs for securing the leaves to the studs, a cover, a locking member passing through a portion of the cover and the perforations in the studs, and positive means for positioning the cover in predetermined relation to the studs. 10. A holder for loose leaves, comprising a plurality of perforated, screw threaded, studs passing through the leaves to be bound, clamping means screwed to the studs for securing the leaves to the studs, a cover, a locking member passing through a portion of the cover and the perforations in the studs, and positive means for positioning the cover in predetermined relation to the studs.

11. A holder for loose leaves, comprising a plurality of spaced screw threaded studs having perforations in alignment, clamping means including a plate in contact with the leaves and a nut adjustably mounted on the studs by being screwed thereon for securing a variable quantity of leaves to the studs, a cover having a portion formed as a guide in alignment with the perforations of said studs, a locking member passing through said guide portion and the studs, and finger like extensions from said cover engagin said studs respectively to maintain the studs in fixed position relative to said cover.

Signed at New. York in the county of New York and State of New York this 10th day of December A. D. 1923.

CLAUDE ST. CLAIR MULLINS. 

